After spending the last two weeks inching closer, Park Tae Jong today became the first Korean jockey to reach 1500 career winners. It was only just after midday at Seoul Race Park when, in torrential rain, Park guided three year old filly J Stern to a hard fought victory in race 3.
While the race was as low key as it is possible to get – a class 6 maiden in which six of the twelve runners were odds of well over 100/1 – the final furlong duel between J Stern and Ever Clever, who had led from the gate, was a furious one, Park getting his mount ahead with fifty metres to go and holding on by a length.
As the rain worsened Park would go on to add three more winners later in the afternoon. There was Boeun Gaduk in race 5 and then Symphony Sonata in race 9. The much hyped four year old relentlessly chased down long time leader Sajaseong in the home straight. Next up came Tiffanyuikkum, the Australian filly securing her fifth win.
Things didn’t go Park’s way in the feature race but he still managed to take outsider Daehyo to an unlikely third place behind Top Point and Gayasanseong.
Tomorrow, Park Tae Jong will partner Beakjeonmupae in the Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy. Dongbanui Gangja will be the overwhelming favourite but if anyone can stop him, it is Baekjeonmupae. Park won this race last year on Saerounbisul – over his twenty two years in the saddle he has won every race, most more than once. Today in the rain, Seoul Race Park honoured one of Korea’s greatest sportsmen. Tomorrow, he’ll be out on the track doing it again.
Namdo Jeap & Ebony Storm flop / Nice Choice back in form
Yeongung Manse took the mile long KNN Cup race in fine style at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Starting the third favourite of nine, the four year old held off the mare, Mirae Cheonsa in a hard fought final furlong. Both Namdo Jeap, second in this year’s Derby and Ebony Storm, winner of last year’s, disappointed.
As usual, Namdo Jeap bounced out of the gate and and straight into the lead. Mirae Cheonsa led the field a few lengths back while Ebony Storm sat, seemingly confortably in fifth place. As they rounded the home turn and entered the straight, Namdo Jeap seemed to have complete control, however, when jockey Chae Gyu Jun asked him to finish the job, there was nothing in the tank. Yeongung Manse passed him with two furlongs to go and Mirae Cheonsa quickly followed.
These two battled it out to the finish while another mare Yeoin Cheonguk finished the quickest of the lot to claim an unlikely third place. For Yeongung Manse, who was kept off the Classic trail last year, it is an eighth career win from fourteen starts. Meanwhile Namdo Jeap came home fourth and Ebony Storm – who was found to have bled during the race – eighth.
At Seoul Race Park, Nice Choice had the opporunity to bounce back from his Derby flop. And the Lost Mountain colt did so with plenty to spare, cruising through the early stages of the nine and a half furlong feature, before grabbing the lead with one to go and running on for a four length victory.
In other races, Park Tae Jong got one more winner to take him to 1499. Park landed race six on improving three year old colt Winner Prince. It now seems inevitable that Korea’s most successful ever rider will achieve the landmark figure of 1500 wins next weekend.
KNN Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – June 14, 2009
1. Yeongung Manse [Sharp Appeal – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] – Jo Chang Wook – 4.2 2. Mirae Cheonsa [Millennium Wind – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – Kim Tae Kyung – 12.0 3. Yeoin Cheonguk [Creek Cat – Ze No Evil (Pentelicus)] – Jung Si Won – 59.1
Distances: 0.75 lengths/4 lengths
Also ran: 4. Namdo Jeap; 5. Sandeomi; 6. Sinheung Gangja; 7. Raon King; 8. Ebony Storm; 9. Welbeing Sidae
Korean rider Jung Ki Yong landed second place in the Kenilworth Cup International Jockey Invitational Race at the Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia this afternoon. Partnering four year old gelding Harlequin, Jung led home the field eight lengths behind the winner, the unbeaten three year old Perfect Pins. Full results from the Singapore Turf Club.
Jung and fellow Seoul Race Park jockey Ham Wan Sik are in Malaysia for the weekend as part of a jockey exchange. Ham’s mount in the Kenilworth Cup was scratched and he failed to trouble the placings with his other two rides. Jung also had two other rides, the best of which was finishing sixth of sixteen in race 3.
On board the Australian bred Perfect Pins was local jockey Rio Burnett, who rode at Seoul on Internatonal weekend last month. It may be noted that while Ham and Jung are both set to receive six rides over the weekend (Ham down to five after the scratching), Burnett was only given two mounts when he came to Seoul.
* Meanwhile, back in Korea, Seungundaeseung landed he afternoon’s feature event at Seoul Race Park, with a comfortable win over Huimang Energy and Free Woody over 2000 metres. Earlier, Park Tae Jong moved one closer to to his 1500th winner, taking race 7 on Happy Rider to move onto 1498. Park has four rides on Sunday.
Park must wait for history but it’s 400 up for Se Young
Secret Weapon held off a late challenge from favourite Triple Seven to claim this afternoon’s feature race at Seoul Race Park. In doing so, the six year old scored his eighteenth career victory and helped take jockey Park Tae Jong to within three successes of becoming the first Korean rider to win 1500 races.
Outsider Hallyu Star set the early pace in the 1900 metre race with Natural Nine and Holeinonefive also showing at the front. Secret Weapon settled towards the front of the pack while Triple Seven and second favourite Namchonuijijon sat in the middle.
Coming off the final turn, Secret Weapon hit the front while Triple Seven came wide to challenge. The favourite was finishing much the quicker of the two but Secret Weapon had enough to hold on to take victory by just over a length. Natural Nine ran on for third but Namchonuijijon had nothing to give in the home straight, finishing well down the field.
Secret Weapon was Park Tae Jong’s only winner meaning he is going to have to wait at least one more week before reaching his milestone. One jockey who did cross a personal landmark today was Moon Se Young. The 2008 champion landed a treble and in doing so, scored his 400th career win. Apart from achieving the figure with three year old filly Violet in race 5, Moon also scored with Isanghwa in race 6 and Dallineun Haengun in race 9.
Class 1 (Korean bred) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – June 7, 2009
1. Secret Weapon [Native Regent – Aheadofthetimes (Gold Alert)] – Park Tae Jong – 3.3 2. Triple Seven [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 2.2 3. Natural Nine [Revere – C. Bop (Aly Dark)] – Shin Hyoung Cheol – 6.6
Distances: 1.25 lengths/1.75 lengths – 11 ran
Air raid sirens sounded across Seoul this morning, flags were at half mast and a brass band provided sombre accompaniment to the Memorial Day card at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. On the track, top sprinter Gamadongja once more proved his versatility, stepping up to 2000 metres to claim the afternoon’s feature race.
Starting second favourite to Brilliant Knight, the New Zealand bred gelding grabbed the lead straight out of the gate and, despite a stretch battle with Brilliant Knight, never relinquished it, to record his ninth career victory.
Second palce on Brilliant Knight was as close as Park Tae Jong, who needs just four victories to achieve 1500 career wins, got to the Winner’s Circle this afternoon. However, current champion jockey Moon Se Young moved to within one win of breaking the 400 mark with comfortable wins on Power Of Money in race 6 and Holy Dreamer in race 12.
There was a second outing for Australian import Khaki Halls [Refuse To Bend – Karamea Star (Bassenthwaite)] in Race 4. The two year old found things easy, cruising to a seven length win. Also winning in style was the filly Photo Stone, while three year old colt Event, stepped up to class 2 level in style, edging out favourite Indiana Dream in race 10.
Class 1 (Foreign bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – June 6, 2009
1. Gamadongja (NZ) [Howbaddouwantit – Miss Martha (Iades)] – N. Tomizawa – 2.4 2. Brilliant Knight (USA) [Lion Hearted – Deputy Lady (French Deputy)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.9 3. Wind King (NZ) [Montjeu – Blessing (Sir Tristram)] – Lee Dong Kook – 102.1
Distances: 1.25 lengths/6 lengths – 12 ran
Choi Beom Hyun in form but Park inches closer to milestone
Hwangnyongsaji and Gi Ra Seong fought a tough stretch battle in the main event at Seoul race Park this afternoon and it was the four year old Hwangnyongsaji who got the better of his older rival to record his ninth career victory.
As Kim Ok Sung on Jigusangwiryeok set a fast early pace, only Choi Beom Hyun on Gi Ra Seong chose to try to keep up with Jun Deok Young keeping Hwangnyongsaji at the head of the main pack a few lengths back. As they turned into the home straight, Jigusangwiryeok tired to leave Hwangnyongsaji to take the line half a length ahead of Gi Ra Seong with Lucky Mountain a further length and a half back.
The defeat was a rare setback for Choi Beom Hyun on an afternoon where the jockey landed three winners. His first came on New Zealand import The Key Lucky [Danroad – Diamond Flute (Clay Hero)], the three year old filly breaking her maiden in race 4. Choi also took wins on highly rated gelding Brothers in race 5 and Hi Friends in race 9, the latter seeing off favourite Grandzif by two lengths.
Grandzif’s jockey was Park Tae Jong and Korea’s most successful ever rider moved a step closer to reaching the next milestone his career – 1500 wins. A wire to wire victory in Gwacheon Jijon in race 8 took Park to 1496 and all eyes will be on his mounts next week to see if they can carry him to the landmark figure.
At Busan Race Park the feature race was won by favourite Glory Champ, who just beat out Annika Queen in the photograph. However, the race was marred by a fatal injury to Janggun Sinhwa. The five year old winner of six races was pulled up in the back straight.
Class 1 (Korean bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – May 31, 2009
1. Hwangnyongsaji [Slew Gin Fizz – Wild Guess (Wild Rush)] – Jun Deok Young – 3.0 2. Gi Ra Seong [Precise End – Dauntless Cat (Mountain Cat)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 2.9 3. Lucky Mountain [Silent Warrior – Myeonggaheui (Revere)] – Cho Kyoung Ho
Distances: 0.5 lengths/1.75 lengths – 11 ran
Bally Brae was finishing the fastest but Dankee’s Pal just managed to hold off the seven year old to claim victory by the narrowest of margins in the feature race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
When these two met last month, the result was reversed and agin Dankee’s Pal hit the front early while Moon Se Young kept Bally Brae in the middle of the ten strong field. This time, however, although Bally Brae, carrying six kilos more than his rival, began relentlessly closing the gap in the straight, Dankee’s Pal, under Cho Kyoung Ho, just did enough to hang on. Seongpacheonha was a well beaten third.
One race earlier, Santos Chavez got his final weekend’s riding underway with a win, taking race 9 on outsider Gamunhuye. In other races, there were wins for Lhotse Shar and Saegisang.
Class 1 (Foreign bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – May 30, 2009
1. Dankee’s Pal (USA) [Max’s Pal – Dankee (Regal Intention)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 2.7 2. Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] – Moon Se Young – 1.6 3. Seongpacheonha (AUS) [Agnes World – House Of Chimes (Bellotto)] – Park Tae Jong – 21.9
Distances: Nose/8 lengths – 10 ran
Beomtti and Sandeomi also win
Wangson came through late to land a convincing win in the Sports Chosun Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The four year old ran at the back of the pack for most of the 1800 metre race before coming through with a stong run in the home straight to have victory secured with half a furlong still to run.
The Sports Chosun Cup is traditionally an opportunity for those four year olds who were either not quite ready for the previous year’s major three year old races or who competed but hadn’t yet reached their peak, to kick on to the top level of Korean racing.
Seven Card led for much of the race and hung on for second place to make it a one-two finish for his and Wangson’s sire, Distilled. Pre-race favourite Happy Queen finishing strongly in third. For Wangson, it is a fifth win in eleven outings and his next race will be in category 1 company.
In other races at Seoul, three year old filly Beomtti threw her name back into contention for big race honours with a surprise win in race 7 beating out two other highly rated fillies in the process. Sangsangbong and My Symphony were more fancied, but it was Beomtti, under Yoo Seung Wan, who came through to snatch the lead and the victory with less than 20 metres remaining. Beomtti is now on three wins from five runs and the three year old filly picture in Seoul is looking increasingly interesting. Whether one can kick on and make a serious challenge for the Oaks in Busan in August is another matter.
In Seoul’s second most valuable race, Blue Pin took his third straight victory. The colt, whose form arrived too late for entry into the Derby picture was a comfortable four length winner.
Meanwhile, another colt who skipped the Derby was in action at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Sandeomi was the only one of the top six finishers in the KRA Cup Mile not to journey to Seoul for the Derby. Today he ran out a comfortable winner over a mile in race 5. Busan’s feature race went the way of Gangsan Jijo. The six year olf New Zealand bred gelding beat out Power Captain and Admiral Reigart in a tight photo finish.
Sports Chosun Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 24, 2009
1. Wangson (KOR) [Distilled – Eastern Tide (Far Out East)] – Kim Young Jin – 4.9 2. Seven Card (KOR) [Distilled – Youcancallmebetty (Buckaroo)] – Kim Ok Sung – 4.4 3. Happy Queen (KOR) [Revere – C. Bop (Aly Dark)] – Cho Kyoung Ho 3.4
Distances: 2 lengths/0.5 lengths – 12 ran
Filly on course for Triple Crown after destroying Derby field
There were doubts about Sangseung Ilro. Yes, she had won the KRA Cup Mile pulling away, but the Cup Mile is not the Derby and Seoul’s best had stayed home that day in April. There are no doubters now.
Seoul’s best didn’t stay home today and they were found wanting as Sangseung Ilro destroyed the best colts Korea has to offer to win the Derby at Seoul Race Park this afternoon and in doing so, take herself to within one race of completing the Triple Crown.
As expected, it was Nice Choice who was sent off favourite, with Sangseung Ilro fourth in the betting, behind Seokcheong and Yeonseung Daero. As the field broke, it was Namdo Jeap who grabbed the early lead under Shin Hyoung Cheol, standing in for Martin Wepner who lost the ride reportedly for failing to weigh-in on time.
Namdo Jeap, second in the Cup Mile last month, continued to lead through the back-straight with Yeonseung Daero, Seokcheong and Khanui Jeguk following close behind. Jo Sung Gon meanwhile was keeping Sangseung Ilro tucked in at the back of the field. Jo began to make his move as they rounded the home turn coming level with Nice Choice in the middle of the field as they exited the turn and entered the home straight.
When the filly started to sprint, however, there were no equals. As in the Cup Mile, Namdo Jeap battled valiantly but once caught, was never going to be able to fight back. Sangseung Ilro ran on to win by five lengths on the line, Jo Sung Gon comfortable in victory with half a furlong still to go. Namdo Jeap completed the same 1-2 as in the Cup Mile while Baengnyeonbong salvaged a tiny amount of pride for Seoul, finishing third. Rank outsider Pangpang, the only other filly in the field, ran a creditable fourth. Yeonseung Daero came in fifth.
Favourite Nice Choice never got involved and crossed the line in sixth, while second favourite Seokcheong disappeared in the home straight and came home ninth. It was another miserable classic for Seoul trained horses. With Busan raiders taking four of the five money finishes, the pressure is going to be on the beleaguered Seoul backstretch to take a long hard look at itself and figure out what it is doing wrong.
Sangseung Ilro is the fifth filly to win the Derby and she is now on course to become the first to land the Triple Crown. She will have to wait a long time to do it, however, as the final leg isn’t until the Minister’s Cup, back at Seoul in October. Before that, however, she will have the opportunity to add the Korean Oaks to her collection at Busan in August.
Overnight, the fear had been that the rain which had fallen throughout yesterday’s card would continue into today and that by post time, the track would be a quagmire. Instead, it was dry from early morning and a strong wind around lunchtime dried the track out considerably and by the time the Derby got underway, the sun had been shining for quite some time. The poor forecast, however, meant that a slightly smaller crowd than hoped for enjoyed the now traditional free entry to the track on Derby day.
Korean Derby (G.I) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 17, 2009
One race before the Derby, the final International Exchange race of the weekend took place. The unbeaten Gangho was sent off the odds-on favourite but it was third favourite Free Hugs who emerged from the pack to land the victory from Saerounachim and Afternoon Dove – Gangho a disappointing fourth:
JRA Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – May 17, 2009
1. Free Hugs (AUS) [Fantastic Light – Woodie (Woodman)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 5.6 2. Saerounachim (NZ) [Pyrus – Jouet (Langfuhr)] – Kim Dong Cheol – 57.5 3. Afternoon Dove (USA) [Afternoon Deelites – Flying Dove (Dove Hunt)] – Jung Ki Young – 35.1
Distances: 2.5 lengths/Neck – 14 ran
* He may have been jocked off Sangseung Ilro for the Derby, but Eiki Nishimura responded in the best possible way, doubling the two most valuable races on offer at Busan Race Park this afternoon. The Japanese rider landed race 5 on Hangang Jeil and race 6 on Jewang.
Korean Derby / JRA Trophy
The twelth Korean Derby goes to post at 17:00 on Sunday afternoon. With 24 hours of persistent rain already having fallen and no signs of it stopping any time soon, track conditions are sure to be similar to last year when 90/1 outsider Ebony Storm pulled off a shock win.
Eight Seoul horses and six Busan horses will line up. Amongst them are two fillies, one of whom, Sangseung Ilro is, for now at least, on course to land the Triple Crown, having won the KRA Cup Mile at Busan in April. The one sour note that hovers above this Derby is that Eiki Nishimura, the jockey who guided her to that victory, will not be with her amid suspicions that the idea of an overseas rider landing a Triple Crown is too much to take for some on the backstretches of Seoul and Busan.
Nice Choice is the likely favourite but it is an open race, especially with the rain. Sangseung Ilro has obviously staked her claim, but cases can be made for a host of others, including Yeonseung Daero, Baengnyeonbong, Sky Star and Seokcheong. In jockey Martin Wepner and trainer Peter Wolsley, Namdo Jeap and Impeccable respectively offer an overseas angle even in Eiki’s absence.
Whatever the result and regardless of the weather, hopefully the Derby can provide a race that does justice to our wonderful sport’s biggest day.
Click here to download past performance information (Korean). Full list of post positions, runners, records and riders:
Korean Derby (GI) – Seoul Race Park – May 17 2009 – 1800M, 17:00
1. Sky Star [B] [Tahamkke – Blue Lark (Ravenwood)] – (10/5/1/0) – Kim Tae Kyoung 2. Khanui Huye [The Groom Is Red – Noble Michelle (Flow Technology)] – (7/2/2/0) – Han Sung Yeol 3. Nice Choice [Lost Mountain – Betty’s Rhapsody (Don’t Hesitate)] – (6/4/2/0) – Moon Se Young 4. Seokcheong [Fiercely – Miss Geology (Jade Hunter)] – (6/4/1/1) – Park Tae Jong 5. Namdo Jeap [B] [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – (6/3/2/1) – Martin Wepner 6. Khanui Jeguk [Sunday Well – Lucky Dip (Didyme)] – (7/3/1/1) – Lee Jung Sun 7. Yeonseung Daero [B] [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] – (8/5/1/2) – Kim Eu Su 8. Baengnyeonbong [Al Naba – Sansovino Art (Mister C.)] – (9/4/1/1) – Kim Ok Sung 9. Pangpang [B] [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] – (11/3/0/1) – Kim Hong Il 10. Impeccable [B] [Distilled – Bellebreezy (Foolish Pleasure)] – (6/4/0/0) – Park Geum Man 11. Sangseung Ilro [B] (F) [Concept Win – Miss Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – (6/4/1/1) – Jo Sung Gon 12. Triple Canon [Tahamkke – Tamna Jeilbong (Lost Mountain)] – (7/4/2/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho 13. Money Teukgeup[Ft. Stockton – Headwork (Silveyville)] – (8/2/3/1) – Choi Beom Hyun 14. Red Ball [Lethal Instrument – Wildly Magic (Pieterhof)] – (8/4/0/1) – Yang Hee Jin
Just before the Derby, the final International Trophy race of the weekend will take place and it’s the big one as the undefeated Gangho faces his first real test in the JRA Trophy. While he will likely be the overwhelming favourite, if he has a bad day, there are one or two who could cause him problems. Bulpae Gisang has four wins from six outings and Free Hugs is a proven performer at this level.
There are eleven races at Seoul on Sunday with the first under orders at 11:20. Busan Race Park hosts six races with the first at 12:40. Jeju Race Park gets underway at 12:10.
Horse Racing in Korea 